The Billionaire’s Sudden Bride
Chapter 215
Summer’s POV
I sipped my cappuccino quietly, watching Leo and Jean–Pierre talk with animated gestures across the table. The two men had fallen into a comfortable rhythm, discussing architectural concepts with an intensity that made me feel like I was eavesdropping.
“Leo, Jean–Pierre said, gesturing with his hands, “if you had stayed in France, you would have made an even greater mark on European architecture by now! Your understanding of sustainable urban development was years ahead of everyone else.
Leo smiled modestly. “That’s not necessarily true. At the time, I had reasons I needed to come back to the United States. Even if I’d achieved greater success in Europe, I wouldn’t have been happy.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. This was surprising coming from Leo, who had always seemed so devoted to his work. I’d never imagined anything else could have pulled him back from a promising career in Europe.
“Oh?” Jean–Pierre leaned forward, eyes twinkling with interest. “Did you find this important person of yours? When you told me you were returning to America to find her, I thought it was just an excuse to leave.”
Leo’s expression darkened, his eyes dimming as he stared into his cup. “I found her,” he said quietly. “But I seem to have lost her again.”
An awkward silence fell over the table. I fidgeted with my napkin, unsure how to respond to this unexpected vulnerability.
“Leo,” I finally said, “someone as talented as you will definitely meet someone even better.”
“Thanks,” Leo replied with a forced smile. “But I’m sure she’s doing well now, so it doesn’t matter anymore.” He straightened up. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”
When Jean–Pierre excused himself to take a phone call, I seized the opportunity.
“Leo, I began casually, “Brandon’s hosting a dinner tonight for Jean–Pierre. Would you like to join us?”
“I’d be honored,” he replied.
“Great! Oh, and I was thinking of inviting Scarlett too. I don’t want to be the only woman there.”
Leo’s expression shifted subtly. “Scarlett? Your friend who owns this place?”
“Yes,” I said innocently. “You two seemed to get along well.”
I approached Scarlett at the counter. “Hey, are you free tonight? Brandon’s hosting a dinner for Jean–Pierre, and I could really use another female presence there.”
Scarlett wiped her hands on her apron, looking skeptical. “I don’t know, Summer. I don’t even know these people.”
“Please? Leo will be there too, and I really don’t want to be the only woman at a table full of men talking business.”
Scarlett hesitated, then sighed. “Fine, but only because you’re begging. And because Le Bernardin is impossible to get into without
connections.”
The elegant façade of Le Bernardin glowed softly in the evening light as we arrived, I’d chosen this restaurant specifically for Jean- Pierre–one of Manhattan’s most iconic French establishments.
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Chapter 215
“Good evening,” I said to the maitre d‘. “We have a reservation for the VIP room.”
He checked his list. “Ah, Ms. Taylor! Yes, of course. Follow me.”
As we were led through the dining room, I glanced back to see Brandon, Leo, and Jean–Pierre following behind. Jean–Pierre was gesturing animatedly to Brandon.
“What about the Manhattan West Side project?‘ I overheard Jean–Pierre asking. “Leo mentioned there are some complexities we should address.”
“It’s not overly complicated, Brandon replied smoothly. “We can discuss work matters tomorrow.”
Inside the VIP room, I casually arranged the seating, placing Scarlett next to Leo. The sommelier arrived, and Brandon ordered an excellent vintage that Jean–Piette approved with enthusiasm.
Throughout dinner, Brandon was attentive in a way that both warmed my heart and embarrassed me slightly. He carefully removed the shells from my prawns before placing them on my plate.
“Brandon,” I whispered, “I can shell my own prawns.”
He merely smiled. Across the table, Leo, Jean–Pierre, and Scarlett were engaged in animated conversation. Jean–Pierre and Leo occasionally lapsed into French, with Scarlett surprisingly joining in
I jabbed Brandon gently under the table, nodding subtly toward Leo and Scarlett. They were sitting closer than necessary, and Leo seemed completely engaged in Scarlett’s coffee dissertation.
Leaning toward Brandon, I whispered, “What do you think about those two?”
Brandon glanced at them briefly, then turned to me with a knowing smirk. Instead of answering, he offered me another perfectly shelled prawn. “Eat.”
As the evening progressed, I watched Leo and Scarlett with growing satisfaction. They seemed to fit together naturally–both intelligent, passionate about their fields, and clearly enjoying each other’s company.
When dinner ended, I saw my opportunity.
“Leo,” I said casually, “would you mind giving Scarlett a ride home? Brandon and I need to drop Jean–Pierre off at his place.”
Leo looked momentarily surprised, then composed himself. “Of course, I’d be happy to.”
I caught Brandon’s knowing headshake but ignored it, feeling quite pleased with myself.
“You’re such a busybody,” Brandon commented as we drove away from Jean–Pierre’s villa.
“What do you mean?” I asked innocently.
“Leo and Scarlett. You couldn’t have been more obvious if you’d pushed their faces together.”
I laughed. “Was it that obvious? You should have seen how he looked at her when he first walked into the café. He couldn’t take his eyes off her!”
“You’re getting in over your head. Matters of the heart are complicated.”
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Chapter 215
“I’m not meddling, I protested. “I’m just… facilitating potential happiness. If they’re not meant to be, they’ll figure that out.”
“By the way, how did your meeting with Edward go?”
Fine, he replied simply.
“That’s all I get? ‘Fine‘?” I raised an eyebrow.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly. “What else do you want to know?”
“What’s going on with Victoria then?
Brandon’s eyes remained on the road. “She had some conflict with the film crew. Someone recorded it and is threatening her with the footage. Nothing major–James is handling it. So you don’t need to worry about her causing you trouble for a while. She’s busy enough creating her own problems.”
“That’s exactly how she is,” I mused. “We grew up together, and aside from making my life difficult, she was always creating drama for herself too.“/
I thought back to our college days. Victoria had been universally admired by men for her beauty, but most women couldn’t stand her. She’d constantly start rumors about classmates, manipulate situations to her advantage, and throw temper tantrums when things didn’t go her way.
“She was never great at making female friends,” I continued. “Too competitive, too backstabbing. The guys never saw that side of her, of course. They just saw the beautiful face and perfect body.”
Brandon reached over, squeezing my hand gently. “Unlike her, you’re genuine. Your beauty isn’t just what people see–it’s who you
are.”
I laughed, leaning my head against his shoulder. “You’re biased, but thank you.”
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